Antifriction bearing



Sept. 18, 1928.

' J. F. OCONNOR ANTIFRICTION BEARING Fi eh Dec. 27, 1924 filavi'dfinnwr' I I 9 A] Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,684,508 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. OCONNOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO W. H. MINER, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE. v

ANTIFRICTION BEARING.

Application filed December 27, 1924. Serial No. 758,346.

This invention relates to improvements in anti-friction bearings.

An object of the invention is to provide anti-friction bearings more particularly adapted for use 'as side bearings for railway cars, in which the parts are so arranged that the anti-friction element is automatically returned to normal centered position-under the influence of gravity when free from load. A further object of the invention is to provide a bearing of this character in which novel centering means are providechwhere by in addition to returning the antifriction element to centered position, such means shifting of the anti-friction element with reference to the centering means so as to pre- 111 the form of a cut-off section of a cylinsent new wearing surfaces and insure 'uniform wear on such element.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bearing of this character in combination with the centering means referred to, in which a plain steel roller'may be utilized, and the centering means applied thereto without mutilation of the roller or the necessity of providing projections or other securing means thereon. 7

Other and further objects of the invention will more fully and clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical, partly sectional View, taken through the ends of the body and truck bolsters ofa railway car showing my invention in connection therewith. Figure 2 is a top plan view of the invention showing the same detached from the bolster and Figure 3 is a transverse, secof Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, A. indicates the under sideof a body'bolster and B the upper side of the corresponding spaced truck bolster of the railway car. My improved side bearing is shown as applied to the truck bolster and comprises broadly' a mounting in the form of a suitable housing C. an antifriction element D, centering and retaining means E and counter-weights F adapted to cooperate with the guide means G provided in the mounting.

The housing C is preferably provided with curved end walls 5, inturned stop flanges 6 as at the upper edges of the end walls 5, and

serve to retain the element in the mounting; the arrangement being such as to permit tional view of the invention on the line 3-3,

end flanges 7 to provide means for. securing the housing in position. The side walls 8 of the housing C are provided with offset portions 9 providing the guide means F, which guide means are disposed on opposite sides of the housing C and are in the form of arcuate recesses or pockets 10 open at their bottoms and their inner sides. The housing C is entirely open at the bottom and the end walls 5 of such housing are recessed at their lower ends for a suitable distance to fit over a a bearing plate 11, the flanges 7 of the housing being secured to the bearing'plate by means of rivets l2, and the bearing plate in turn being secured to the bolster plate B by means of rivets 13; the bearing plate '11 forining'the bottom of the housing.

The anti-friction element D ispreferably drical rolled steel bar, of a length to fit crosswise within the housing so as to leave a suitable space between the inner sides of the side walls 8 of the housing and the ends of the element D, for the application of the centering means hereinafter referred to. The anti-friction element is arranged to roll upon the bearing plate-11 in the usual manner from end to end of the housing C.

The centering and retaining or connecting means E are preferably in the form of a rectangular yoke 14 adapted to fit over the reduced top portion of the element D, and

being of a width less than the major circumference of said anti-friction element, so that the yoke member 14 rides upon and-is suparcuat'e in shape toconform to the configuration of the guide 'means, being normally spaced from the upper wall of the guide means when the antifriction element is in centered position, each of such counter- .wei hts being arran ed to exert a ull u" on D l C the anti-friction element 1) and yoke 14 moved from said element, the same will be returned to centered position by the counterweights F through the medium of theyoke 14 acting upon such element. During continuous operation of. the device in the manner above set forth there will becertain automatic shifting movement of the element Dwith reference to the yoke 14:, resulting in the constant presentation ofnew Wearing surfaces of the element D so as to ensure uniform wear thereupon and minimize any tendency to produce flat spots.

An important feature of applicants in vention resides in providing the yoke which permitsthe use of c ountei balancing centering means in connection with a plain, unmutilated roller, such counter-balancing means being of a character to retain the roller in the housing and perinit automatic shifting of the roller relative to the yoke, to present new wearing surfaces during the normal operating of the device.

While I have herein shown and described what I noW .considerthe preferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative and .I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is: i i l 1. In an anti-friction bearing, the combination with a mounting adapted to be applied to the bolsterof a vehicle; of an antifriction element. movablyv engaging said mounting; an independentretaining device 'includin" means disposed in supporting con tact with the peripheral bearing surface of said element in regions above the horizontal central plane of said. elements; counter .Weights connected .tosaid means; and means forcausing displacement of said counterweights upon movement of isaid element to eitherside of centered position, said means serving to movably confine said counterweights and maintain said retaining device in assembled relation with said mounting.

In an antifriction bearing, the ,com-

bination with a mounting adapted to be applied to the bolster of a vehicle; of an antifriction element movably engaging said mounting; a yoke disposed in supporting contactwith the peripheral bearing surface of said anti-friction element above the axial center thereof and being of a size less than the size of said anti-friction element at said axial'center, said yoke being provided with depending projections; counter-weights on said projections; and guide means in said mounting movably retaining said counter-weights. v

3. In an anti-friction bearing, the combination with a housing adapted to be secured to a bolster or the like, and having a solid bearing surface associated therewith; of an anti-friction elementproper disposed partially within said housing,fsaid element having a bearing surface adapted. to cooperate with said first named bearing surface and an oppositely disposed bearing surface disposed exteriorly of the housing, said element being adaptedto move to either side of normal central position when actuated under load; and combined, gravity actuated self-centering, retaining means, disposed in supporting contact with the outer peripheral bearing surface of said anti-friction element and embracing the same to retain said element in assembled relation withfthe housing, said element being adjustable with respect to said means whereby to present different bearin surface portions, said means being held in assembled relation with said housing. I

4. In an antifrict-ion bearing, the combination with a mounting adapted to be applied to abolster or the like and having a bearing surface associated therewith of a plain cylindrical roller adapted to move back .and forth on said bearing surface; guide means associated with said mounting and being vertically"arranged; an independent retaining device having counter-weighted portions mounted in said guides and movably retained thereby, said device being disposed in supporting contact with the opposite sides of the curved surface of the roller above the centertliereof to maintain the said roller assembled relation with said mounting, said retaining device operating to center said roller when .free from load. 7

In witness that I claim the foregoing'I have hereunto subscribed my name this 5th dayof December, 1924. j

JOHN Ft OCONNOR. 

